Employees should be aware of their rights when it comes to the labor laws in their state or country. Employees should know what is expected of their employer, and what they are entitled to in terms of benefits, working conditions, and more. By being familiar with the labor laws, employees can protect themselves from being taken advantage of and ensure that they are treated fairly in the workplace.
1. Employees have the right to a safe and healthy workplace
One of the most important labor laws for employees to know is that they have the right to a safe and healthy workplace. With this labor law, employees are protected from dangerous or unsafe working conditions and hazardous working environments. Especially in manufacturing or industrial fields, employees have the right to a safe and healthy workplace. If working conditions are not designed to keep people safe, employees have the right to refuse to work under these conditions.
2. Employees have the right to breaks
Employees are entitled to breaks during their workday depending on which labor laws are in place in their country or state. For example, some statuses are required to be given breaks every four hours for at least 15 minutes. An employee working eight hours a day should absolutely have two rest periods of at least 15 minutes each, one at the beginning of their shift and one in the middle. Even truck drivers can employ a truck labor lawyer to ensure their employers give them a 10 minute paid rest break. Breaks are extremely important for muscle recovery and mental health.
3. Employees have the right to a guaranteed payment
Employees have the right to a “guaranteed payment,” or at least the minimum wage. Employers are not allowed to just take an employee’s hours, or reduce their availability without paying them for it. This also includes paying workers for working overtime. If an employer does not pay the agreed-upon wage to employees, they have broken labor laws and can be sued by their employees. It is important that employers abide by this because it allows all citizens of a country to be able to provide for themselves and their families.
4. Employees are entitled to paid sick days
Depending on the labor laws of their country or state, employees are entitled to paid sick days. Paid sick days allow an employee to take time off for illnesses without losing wages. Employees need to be able to recover from illness and not spread it around by going to work when they are sick. Employers want their businesses running smoothly, so many create policies that allow employees to take paid sick days.
5. Employees can take legal action if they are wrongfully terminated or discriminated against
Employees can take legal action if they are wrongfully terminated or discriminated against because of their race, gender, age, etc. This means that if an employer fires an employee without just cause or breaks labor laws by not paying employees properly or giving them the rest time they deserve, they can be sued for it. Employees must know what their rights are when it comes to their safety, pay, and so on.
6. Employees have the right to file a complaint
If an employee feels that they are being treated unfairly and/or illegally, then they can file a complaint with the relevant authorities in their country or state. All employees have the right to file a complaint if their employer is abusing them, not paying them enough or at all, or just treating them poorly. There are many instances in which filing a complaint can help an employee get out of a negative situation and regain control over their life.
7. Employees have the right to join unions
In some countries or states, employees have the right to join unions. Unions are created to protect the rights of workers by negotiating with employers on pay, working conditions, benefits, and so on. Employees should definitely consider joining a union if it is allowed where they live because they offer protection against unfair treatment at work.
8. Employers can not ask you about past salaries
One common labor law for employees to become familiar with is the fact that employers cannot legally ask you about past salaries when hiring you. This is a way to keep employees from being paid unfairly in comparison to their coworkers, and it prevents discrimination in the workplace as well.
The most effective way to ensure that employees know what rights they have is by informing them of these labor laws as they are created. If employers do not abide by the state or country’s labor laws, they can be sued. This benefits both employees and employers because it ensures that nobody is getting taken advantage of and that they are being treated equally in the workplace.
